Life-preserver.



, Patented ug. I3, I90I. s. c. BuNsEN. LIFE PBESERVEB. (Application medNov. 21, 1900.)

(No Model.)

3M omtoz Witnesses UNTTnn STATES PATENT rricn.

LIFE-PRESERVER SPECIFICATION forming part ofvr Letters Patent N o.680,452, dated August 13, 1901.

Application filed November 21, 1900. Serial No. 37,278. (No model.)

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Hy invention relates to a life-preserver designed to be worn,preferably, beneath the outer garment and at any and all times desiredwithout causing inconvenience to the wearer and which will be ready foruse at a moments notice.

The object of my invention is the production of a life-preserver whichwill not in any way inconvenience the movements of a swimmer, but whichwill facilitate his progress while in the Water, and which when inposition on the body and when Anot in condition for actual use-that is,deflated-will not be perceptible and will not in any way incon ven--ience or discommode the wearer.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as hereinafter fully described and specificallyclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view showing myinvention applied to a person. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the device. Fig.3 is a detail view showing means for inlating all the bagssimultaneously.

The numeral 8 in the accompanying drawings represents a suitable casing,which is provided with an aperture or opening 9, through which the headof the wearer is designed to be passed. This casing is provided sired,one or more inflatable bags or sacks than is really required to supporta person in the water may be employed, but which need not be inflatedexcept in the case of an emergency-that is,- in the event of one of theother bags not operating satisfactorily. The bags or sacks are air-tightand may be constructed of any suitable material-such as rubber,beef-gullet, and the like--and of any suitable dimensions. The bag orsack be- 'fore it is iniiated lies perfectly flat, and this is thecondition in which it is Worn when not in actual use, so that it doesnot in any way inconvenience the wearer nor mar his or her appearance,it being the intention to wear the bags beneath the outer garment, so asto be invisible and ready for use at a moments notice.

The casing 8 is preferably constructed of dark cloth, which material andcolor of material are found preferable and most serviceable forprotecting the bags. The casing 8 not only serves as a means forattaching the lifepreserver to a garment, but also protects the bags andprevents them from being iniiated to too great an extent, and thusprevents the same from being accidentally bursted. To allow for theproper inflation of the sack or bag, the casing is made slightly largerthan the sack or bag when in a deflated condition and of such a size, asstated above, to prevent too great an inflation.

For inflating the sack or bag and for permitting the ready escape of airand for controlling the air in the sacks the same is preferably providedwith a tube 5, which latter is provided with a suitable valve 6, ofapproved construction, which enables the sack or bag t'o be blown up andthe valve to be closed without permitting the air to escape, or, ifdesired, the tube may be provided with a clamp, such as 7, by means ofwhich after the sack or bag has been inflated to the desired extent itcan be operated to clamp the tube 5 and hold the air in the sack. Ifdesired, both a valve, as 6, and a clamp, as 7, may be provided at thesame time on the tube 5 as a precautionary means, so that in the eventof one of the devices not operating the other in all probability would.This is rather important, for the reason that in the event of ashipwreck or other calamity at sea,

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where a person is obliged to take to the water, it is of utmostimportance that either the clamp or the valve should work perfectly.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings Ihave shown all of the tubes 5, which areconnected with the respective bags or sacks, coupled to a suitablenipple, as 14, (shown more clearly in Fig. 3,) and having a plurality ofnipple ends, so that all of the bags or sacks may be inflatedsimultaneously. This will greatly facilitate a persons preparation forentering the Water.

By providing the construction shown in Fig. 2 with tab-loops 12 at andnear both ends of the device the same will serve as a pair of Suspendersto support the garments ot' the wearer. It will also be observed that bycovering the bags with cloth the disagreeable feeling which would beexperienced in having cold rubber come next to the undergarments or nextto the skin is obviated.

While my invention may be found particu- I' larly useful for personsgoing to sea, yet it will also be found very convenient for use inswimming-schools and at the seashore, where persons desire to learn toswim without running the risk of being drowned.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A life-preserver designed to be worn beneath an outer garment, andcomprising in its construction an outer proteeting-casin g of cloth orother suitable material provided with attaching edges or flanges, saidcasing being also provided with an aperture through which the head ofthe wearer is adapted to be passed, a plurality of inflatable bags orsacks secured within the outer casing so as to be protected thereby,means for in iiating the bags without removing the same from the casing,and means located outside the casing for holding the bags in an inflatedcondition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

` GEORGE C. BUNSENA Witnesses:

S. A. EoKsTEIN, HARRY F. HARPER.

